Mustang News

Your clutch is a critical link in your drivetrain, taking power from the engine to the road. It's also a component that will eventually need replacement, either due to normal wear and tear, failure from asking it to handle more than it was designed to withstand, or preferably as an upgrade to match other vehicle modifications. No matter what the reason, when replacing a clutch there is a series of steps you'll need to accomplish before, during, and after your installation. Following these steps will help you save a lot of time and money.



To help you work through these steps, Centerforce Clutches has created their own Clutch Install Checklist. This checklist is a great tool to have whenever you are installing a clutch on any type of vehicle. When it came time to install a new Centerforce clutch on our our 2000 Mustang GT, the checklist saved us a lot of time, money, and hard work. Follow along as we go through the three different sections of the checklist and apply them to our install.











Part One: Pre-Installation



The Pre-Installation Checklist is all about being prepared so you have as few problems as possible when installing your clutch. This section is extremely important because it gets you organized so you don't have to stop your installation once you've started due to not having the correct part or tool.



"We, of course, want to reduce any warranty work that could be a result of an existing problem, therefore saving the customer time and money," explains Centerforce's Bryan Wilson. Along with assisting in your organization, this checklist will tell you if you really need to spend the money on a new clutch or if it is merely an easy adjustment that's needed instead.





The Pre-Installation checklist is possibly the most important section of the three -- following all the steps will pay big dividends in time and money once you're wrenching under the car.



Determine Why You Need a New Clutch





Burned-out friction materials are the usual reason for clutch replacement, but issues like broken hub spring retainers or bent release forks can point to other problems that need to be corrected as well.



Before you begin any kind of wrenching on your vehicle, or even order a new clutch, you need to pin down why you are installing a new clutch in the first place. If some sort of mechanical failure prompted the swap, you'll need to be prepared to remedy the situation at the same time you're changing out the clutch. If it's an upgrade to a clutch with more holding power, you'll want to make sure the new unit is suited to the torque your engine is producing, and the kind of driving you'll be doing -- putting in a killer double-throwdown superclutch might seem like a good idea, but your left leg will thank you for going with something more streetable in your modified daily driver. Finally, if you're just replacing your clutch due to normal wear taking its toll, then the only thing you need to do is install your new Centerforce Clutch.



Tools and Supplies Needed



After you have determined why you need a new clutch, you need to check if you have all the items on hand necessary to do the swap. Having the right tools makes the difference between a smooth, straightforward job and an unpleasant ordeal. The Pre-Installation section has a helpful list of all of the tools and supplies you will need.



One invaluable resource is a service manual for your vehicle, which will have all of the torque values you will need to know, as well as details on any special procedures required for clutch R&R on your particular ride. A torque wrench, clutch alignment tool (typically, but not always included with the new clutch, so check!), jack and jack stands, and a dedicated transmission jack or jack adapter for your floor jack are some of the tools you will definitely need when removing and installing a clutch.



Acetone or brake cleaner is needed to remove any contamination (like your greasy handprints) and clean the surface of your pressure plate and flywheel before you button everything up, and you may need transmission fluid or hydraulic clutch fluid for your particular application. Most importantly, make sure you have your Centerforce Clutch, a new throw-out bearing, pilot bearing, and a resurfaced or new flywheel.





A transmission jack, or a transmission adapter for your floor jack that can securely support the gearbox is a necessity for a clutch swap. Trying to balance the heavy transmission on a regular jack, or even worse, just trying to muscle it, is asking for trouble.



Installation



After you have all of the tools and supplies you need, along with a new clutch and components, you are almost ready to complete the swap. There is one more critical inspection that needs to take place. With the transmission and old clutch removed, you need to inspect all of the clutch parts. Pulling the transmission is something you only want to do once, if you can, so now is the time to inspect and replace anything that might be questionable.



In our application we inspected the clutch fork, the splines on the input shaft, the pilot bearing, and the throw-out bearing guide. If your application has a hydraulic system, full inspection of that is needed as well. Now you are prepared and ready for the install.





Checking off each installation step as you go will avoid the dreaded, "Oh, nuts..." moment at the end when you realize you forgot something after the transmission is already bolted back up.



The Install



The Installation Checklist gives you a general list tasks common to every clutch swap. "There are many different steps before, during, and after a clutch install. We still require that the person installing these parts use a factory manual, but these tips will help in every case because they are non-specific to a vehicle," said Wilson.



You need to check your transmission input shaft for any damage or wear. This is done by sliding the clutch disk on and off the input shaft. The throw-out bearing guide tube must also be checked for any wear or galling. The flywheel needs to be double-checked to assure that it has been resurfaced and balanced to the OEM specifications.



Next, the dowel pins (if your clutch setup uses them) on the flywheel need to be secure, straight, and smooth. The last step is to make sure there is dry graphite lubricant or lithium grease on the input shaft splines, avoiding all of the flywheel, clutch disc, and pressure plate friction surfaces.





Removing and installing your transmission should be done carefully in order to eliminate the possibility of bending the input shaft



Post Installation



The Post Installation Checklist gives you the final bullet points to hit after your installation is complete. For cable-operated clutches like the one on our Mustang, you should refer back to your manual in order to get the correct adjustment procedure. Once this is done you can take your vehicle out for a road test to ensure that everything is working smoothly and correctly. Be sure to follow the clutch manufacturer's recommendations for breaking in and seating the new clutch to assure it performs the way it should.





After the installation is finished, check off each Post Installation step as you complete it.



A clutch installation can end up being easy or difficult. If you follow the Centerforce Checklist, you're far more likely to have a good experience. Being organized as well as having the correct tools and supplies are what's necessary to assure a smooth clutch install, and the Centerforce Checklist covers it all. If you have any more questions, or you want to obtain a copy of the checklist, the Centerforce Team is always happy to help.







Source:

Centerforce Clutches

Web: www.centerforce.com

Phone: 928-771-8422

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